Community Legal Services

Lord Shepherd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish directions to the Legal Services Commission setting priorities for funding as part of the community legal services.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I wrote yesterday to Peter Birch CBE, chairman-designate of the Legal Services Commission, enclosing three directions about priorities for funding, the scope of the community legal services fund and particular budgets within the fund. Copies of these directions have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Inland Revenue 35

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the rationale behind Inland Revenue 35; and how much revenue will be raised through its implementation.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I refer the noble Lord to the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report and Financial Statement and Budget Report published on March 1999 and the Inland Revenue press releases issued on 9 March and 23 September 1999.

Single Currency Membership

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the "big political issues" concerning entry into monetary union to which the Prime Minister referred in his interview on 16 January with Mr David Frost.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Prime Minister, in his interview on 16 January, repeated the Government's position on membership of the single currency, as set out by the Chancellor on 27 October 1997.

Income Tax

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will estimate, in respect of the most recent year for which information is available, what the additional revenue from income tax would have been if the following rates of income tax on taxable income above the then higher rate threshold had applied: 40 per cent up to £100,000; 50 per cent from £100,000 to £500,000; 60 per cent from £500,000 to £1,000,000; and 70 per cent above £1,000,000, assuming that all other parts of the tax system remained unchanged.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: If higher rates of income tax were imposed at 50 per cent on taxable income between £100,000 and £500,000; 60 per cent on taxable incomes between £500,000 and £1,000,000; and 70 per cent on taxable incomes above £1,000,000, this would raise £3.1 billion in a full year.
	This estimate is based on the 1997-98 Survey of Personal Incomes projected to 1999-2000 consistent with November 1999 Pre-Budget Report assumptions.

Special Advisers: Relationship withCivil Service

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Mr Alastair Campbell has, since May 1997, ever attended meetings on health policy or bilateral meetings between the Prime Minister and Secretaries of State for Health; and
	Whether Mr Alastair Campbell has ever used executive powers given to him by Order in Council in May 1997 to issue directions to civil servants in the Department of Health about (a) policy or (b) publicity on the National Health Service; and
	Whether Mr Jonathan Powell has ever used executive powers given to him by Order in Council in May 1997 to issue directions to civil servants in the Department of Health about (a) policy or (b) publicity on the National Health Service.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: As special advisers appointed under Article 3(3) of the Civil Service Order in Council, Jonathan Powell and Alastair Campbell have the powers to issue directions to civil servants and have civil servants working for them. Internal advice between civil servants and details of attendance at internal meetings are not normally made public in line with exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Gypsies and Other Travelling People

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action has been taken, or recommendations made, by the Social Exclusion Unit on gypsies and other travelling people.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: None. At this time the Social Exclusion Unit has made no specific recommendation for gypsies or travellers and has no present plans to do so.

Legislation: Amendments to Bills

Baroness Hamwee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will arrange that, when they table amendments to a Bill which, because of their number or their substance, would if agreed make substantial changes to the Bill, there is made available to the House a version of the Bill or relevant parts of the Bill as it would be if it were so amended.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government cannot undertake to do so.

Task Forces

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 18 January, whether they will identify the Departmental Task Forces which have been wound up and replaced by non-departmental public bodies.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy, on 11 November 1999 (WA cols. 245-48) provided details of all task forces established since May 1997. The list included details of those task forces that have been wound up following completion of their work. In the case of two such task forces, work on a number of their recommendations is being taken forward by two executive non-departmental public bodies.
	The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales was established in September 1998. It builds on the work of the Youth Justice Task Force.
	The Disability Rights Commission, when it begins its work in April, will consider and take forward a number of the recommendations contained in the final report from the Disability Rights Task Force.

Human Rights Select Committee

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the reasons for the delay in setting up a Select Committee on Human Rights as envisaged in the White Paper, Rights Brought Home; The Human Rights Bill (Cm 3782, October 1997).

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The timing for the Joint Committee's establishment is related to the date of implementation for the Human Rights Act. We announced on 18 May 1999 that the Human Rights Act will be implemented on 2 October 2000, somewhat later than had been thought, so as to allow time for judicial training and departmental preparations. The Government consider that the Joint Committee should be operational in advance of the Act coming into full effect. We hope to make an announcement about that shortly.

Probation Service: Change of Name

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated cost of changing the name of the Probation Service to the "Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Service".

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The change of name is one of a number of changes involved in the Government's plans to create a unified service for England and Wales. These include structural changes which will involve the amalgamation of some area services and make all of them more accountable to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary. The cost of changing the name is expected to be minimal in this wider context.

Mike Tyson

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the compassionate reasons which persuaded the Home Secretary to admit Mr Mike Tyson, who had been convicted of rape in the United States, to the United Kingdom.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: There were no compassionate grounds in relation to Mr Tyson which affected the decision of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary to admit him to the United Kingdom. In reaching his decision one of the factors which weighed most heavily with him was the lack of consistency in the effect of the relevant Immigration Rule. My right honourable friend also considered the likely effect of cancellation of the fight on those who had already bought tickets and smaller enterprises and individuals who were probably least able to bear any losses.
	My right honourable friend weighed these factors against the nature and seriousness of Mr Tyson's convictions and he decided on balance that the exceptional circumstances of this case were such that Mr Tyson should be granted entry solely for the purpose of participating in a sporting event. This decision was entirely in accordance with the Immigration Act 1971 and the Immigration Rules, which provide a residual discretion to allow entry in exceptional cases.

Mike Tyson

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any of the party accompanying Mr Mike Tyson have criminal records.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Immigration Service received information that a member of Mr Mike Tyson's entourage had a criminal record. This application and all other applications from Mr Tyson's entourage for leave to enter the United Kingdom were decided in accordance with the Immigration Rules and took account of all factors relevant to each individual case.

Either-way Offences committed toCrown Court

Lord Windlesham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the number of either-way offences committed to trial in the Crown Court in each of the years from 1987 to 1997 inclusive, showing the annual year on year percentage change and the proportion of elected cases to all cases committed for trial in the Crown Court.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Figures provided by the Attorney-General's department which relate to prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service are given in the table:
	
		
			 Year Either-way offences committed for trial Year on year per cent change Per cent of either-way cases committed on election of defendant 
			 1987 95,854  53 
			 1988 105,505 +10 45 
			 1989 98,542 -7 42 
			 1990 94,149 -4 38 
			 1991 97,622 +4 36 
			 1992 91,829 -6 37 
			 1993 75,867 -17 35 
			 1994 71,436 -6 35 
			 1995 79,324 +11 33 
			 1996 71,654 -10 32 
			 1997 77,804 +9 28

Freedom of Information and Task Forces

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoronton that "the move towards task forces . . . makes for more transparent government and provides a much wider source of advice" (H.L. Deb., 11 January, col. 525), how such an analysis can be reconciled with their intention that information pertaining to the formulation of government policy should be a specific exemption from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Bill.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The greater use of task forces encourages wider debate of the issues concerned: it ensures that Ministers may receive advice from beyond the confines of Whitehall or special interest groups. It ensures that issues are aired and decisions are taken on a more informed basis.
	This does not conflict with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Bill. Freedom of information is about opening up government and about making information more available. Nothing in the Freedom of Information Bill prevents any information from being released. The Freedom of Information Bill does indeed contain an exemption for the formulation of government policy, but it is acknowledged that government must have the space to evaluate policy options and that premature disclosure of this kind of information could hamper the effective conduct of government. Freedom of information regimes in other countries provide similar protection for this kind of information. In addition, while an exemption may place information outside the general right of access that the Bill provides, there is nevertheless a duty placed on authorities to consider exercising their discretion to release such information in the public interest.
	The Bill also contains a specific provision regarding the desirability of communicating factual information which has been used to provide an informed background to decision-taking and, although disclosure decisions must be made on a case by case basis, it may well be that reports of task forces would fall into this category.

Midwives

Baroness Cumberlege: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of recent discrepancies in government figures, what is the increase in the number of training places available for midwives alone; how this has increased over the last three years; and what assurances they can give that this increase will be sustained.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information is shown in the table.
	
		NHS Funded Pre-registration Midwifery Training Places
		
			 Year Degree Diploma Total pre-reg Other 
			 1996-97 161 498 659 993 
			 1997-98 224 572 796 908 
			 1998-99 254 611 865 892 
			 1999-2000 383 549 932 897 
		
	
	1998-99 data is unvalidated.
	1999-2000 training places are planned.
	Degree = pre-registration students undertaking a full-time equivalent degree course leading to a new midwife entering the labour market.
	Diploma = pre-registration students undertaking a full-time equivalent diploma course leading to a new midwife entering the labour market.
	Midwifery other = post-registration students, who are already qualified nurses undertaking a full-time shortened diploma or degree course or part-time leading to a second registration as a midwife.
	This year there are over 19,000 nursing and midwifery training places available, 4,000 more than three years ago, of which over 1,800 are midwifery--4 per cent more than planned for 1998-99: 1,800 midwifery training places represents about 10 per cent of the workforce. The Government are committed to delivering 6,000 new nursing and midwifery training places by 2002. This target was based upon delivering 1,000 of those new places in the current year (1999-2000), but we are now planning to deliver 1,600. This means that cumulatively 4,800 of the places have already been secured and the number of new nurses and midwives available from summer 2002 will be 60 per cent higher than originally planned.

Midwives

Baroness Cumberlege: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many midwives are currently returning to work; and how many are intending to return to work.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Since we launched our national recruitment campaign in February, 1999, 497 midwives have contacted the National Health Service in England about returning to work; and 2,593 nurses and midwives have returned to employment in the NHS in England since the campaign began. No figures are available on how many of these have returned to employment as midwives.
	This year's national recruitment campaign in England will be launched later this month. New figures to show how many midwives have returned to employment in the NHS in England will be compiled on a monthly basis after the new campaign is launched.

Employment Tribunal Applications and Disability Discrimination Act

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the breakdown, both by nature of the disability and outcome of the case, of the 5,841 cases taken by the Employment Tribunal up to the end of October 1999 under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Part II (Employment Provisions).

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Information is not recorded centrally on the nature of the disability in employment tribunal applications: 1,777 complaints under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 were disposed of by an employment tribunal before 31 October 1999. The following table shows the outcome of these complaints. A complaint may be made by an individual under more than one heading.
	
		
			  Outcome 
			 Nature of Claim ACAS Settlement Withdrawn or private settlement Successful at hearing Dismissed (merits) Dismissed (out of scope) Otherwise disposed of 
			 Unfair dismissal because of disability 381 283 57 162 40 28 
			 Other detriment 84 73 12 42 4 9 
			 Discrimination in obtaining employment 38 30 9 33 5 2 
			 Employer's failure to make reasonable  adjustments 209 132 32 86 17 9 
			  
			 Total 712 518 110 323 66 48 
		
	
	Source:
	Employment Tribunals Service.

British Biathlon Union

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Minister for Sport will reply to Lord Moynihan's letter of 19 November 1999 relating to the British Biathlon Union.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: A letter in response to the correspondence from the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, was sent from the Minister for Sport on 14 December. As this letter has not been received a copy has been forwarded to him.

CAP Payments: Use by Farmers of OS Maps

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the speech by Lord Bruce of Donington on 25 November (H.L. Deb., col. 605), whether they will clarify the position regarding the possible replacement of Ordnance Survey as the basis for the measurement of land for assessing CAP payments.

Baroness Hayman: I wrote to my noble friend Lord Bruce of Donington on 11 January in response to the points which he raised on 25 November. A copy of that letter has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	As I made clear in that letter, the use by farmers of field areas from Ordnance Survey (OS) maps in their aid claims remains perfectly acceptable, provided the fields concerned are fully utilised for the purpose of the aid scheme under which the farmer's claim is being made. This has been the case since the start of the integrated administration and control system (IACS) in 1993 and there are no plans to change it.
	The full OS area of a field may include parts which are taken up by features such as ponds or footpaths. These uncultivated areas are not eligible for aid and must be subtracted from the claim.
	The Commission has proposed that, from 2003, EU member states must maintain their IACS databases in a spatial form with the use of a geographical information system (GIS). Although there are some aspects of the Commission proposal which the Government would like to see amended, they recognise that the use of a GIS offers real benefits to farmers and to administrators. These benefits were also recognised by the IACS and inspections working group set up as part of the Review of Regulatory Burdens. The group also supported the Ministry's plans to use OS digital mapping as the foundation of its IACS database. The ability of farmers to claim the full OS areas of their fields, where appropriate, would not be affected by the introduction of a GIS.

Pig Production

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many pig producers have left the industry during the 12 months to 31 December 1999.

Baroness Hayman: Information in the form requested is not available. The available information relates to the number of main holdings in England with pigs at the June agricultural census, which were estimated to be 10,207 at June 1998 and 9,453 at June 1999. Holdings can continue with the same activities even though they change ownership and conversely can change their activities while continuing in the same farming business.

Pig Production

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the annual tonnage of pig-meat and pig-meat products imported from countries in the European Union which import offal from the United Kingdom, for the last five years.

Baroness Hayman: Official overseas trade statistics show that the annual tonnage of pig-meat and pig-meat products imported by the UK from countries in the European Union for 1994-98 and January to October 1999 were as shown in the table below.
	
		UK imports of pig-meat and pig-meat products from EU 1994-98 and January to October 1999
		
			 Pork  Tonnes 
			 Country 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Jan-Oct 1999 
			 Denmark 41,545 46,468 53,106 47,118 57,630 56,107 
			 Irish Republic 20,415 32,859 32,486 30,613 34,211 26,862 
			 France 19,145 26,058 29,076 29,636 26,110 21,640 
			 Netherlands 10,355 21,879 29,150 19,928 22,277 28,437 
			 Belgium 7,304 9,674 11,807 6,741 5,712 9,324 
			 Germany 4,706 4,895 6,016 6,501 8,058 10,709 
			 Spain 968 996 2,194 3,006 842 2,130 
			 Others 130 934 2,638 1,397 668 3,096 
			  
			 Total 104,569 143,763 166,475 144,940 155,509 158,305 
			 Bacon and ham 
			 Country 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Jan-Oct 1999 
			 Denmark 117,241 113,518 110,887 117,321 106,457 79,074 
			 Netherlands 88,905 89,289 130,648 99,839 105,033 89,552 
			 Irish Republic 10,836 10,191 8,862 8,586 7,119 7,004 
			 France 5,112 5,732 7,934 6,901 4,840 7,221 
			 Germany 5,338 8,447 5,420 5,019 5,294 1,547 
			 Italy 1,951 1,196 2,705 1,312 2,429 1,247 
			 Belgium 717 2,588 1,788 755 640 434 
			 Others 197 67 287 374 78 95 
			  
			 Total 230,298 231,029 268,531 240,108 231,890 186,175 
			 Offal 
			 Country 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Jan-Oct 1999 
			 Denmark 12,739 13,523 12,383 12,497 12,256 10,256 
			 Irish Republic 2,812 3,499 1,280 1,453 2,074 1,914 
			 France 2,658 2,331 1,089 1,076 1,406 632 
			 Netherlands 1,920 1,394 1,244 980 1,245 1,388 
			 Germany 382 141 217 92 688 235 
			 Belgium 190 303 100 180 227 104 
			 Others 64 155 149 289 286 291 
			  
			 Total 20,765 21,346 16,463 16,567 18,182 14,822 
		
	
	
		
			 Meat and offal preparations 
			 Country 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Jan-Oct 1999 
			 Denmark 35,609 31,856 30,759 28,604 32,092 16,747 
			 Netherlands 31,329 30,740 33,656 27,152 30,973 17,355 
			 Irish Republic 10,778 8,902 10,754 10,548 8,630 8,048 
			 France 6,598 4,884 4,700 5,202 11,349 14,060 
			  
			 Germany 9,623 7,914 5,809 7,596 6,744 5,651 
			 Belgium 10,403 11,475 5,165 4,315 4,203 3,087 
			 Italy 2,499 2,038 1,884 1,938 1,848 1,810 
			 Spain 747 553 642 928 936 801 
			 Others 6 12 100 189 228 243 
			  
			 Total 107,593 98,374 93,469 86,472 97,004 67,802

Livestock Producers: Receiverships, Bankruptcies and Insolvencies

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many livestock producers in the United Kingdom have gone into receivership in the 12 months to 31 December 1999 per sector of:
	(a) pig production;
	(b) beef production;
	(c) dairy production;
	(d) poultry production;
	(e) sheep production; and
	(f) mixed livestock production.

Baroness Hayman: Data for receiverships, bankruptcies and insolvencies are not available by type of agricultural producer. However, in the 12 months to 30 June 1999, the total numbers of bankruptcies of self-employed individuals and company insolvencies (including partnerships) in the agricultural and horticultural sector of England and Wales were 190 and 71 respectively.

Plant Varieties of Agricultural Species

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they are proposing to remove the restriction on the marketing of seed of a plant variety on a list of another member state corresponding to a British national list (contained in Regulation 31 of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982), even where an application for its entry on a British national list is under consideration or has been refused.

Baroness Hayman: This is necessary to implement amendments to Council Directive 70/457/EEC on the common catalogue of plant varieties of agricultural species adopted by the Council of Ministers in December 1998.
	The effect of the changes is a plant variety may only be marketed if it is on a UK national list or the EC common catalogue.

Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to respond to the Report on the Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group.

Baroness Hayman: The government response to the report of the Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group was published on 1 February. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

Farm Incomes

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the latest position on farm incomes.

Baroness Hayman: Estimated figures show that total income from farming remains broadly unchanged in 1999 compared to 1998. The continued difficulties in the farming industry are as a result of lower prices for most agricultural commodities due to the over supply of commodity markets. The strength of sterling, which affects all sections of the economy, has also been a factor. Detailed estimates of the income, output and productivity of United Kingdom agriculture in 1999 were published on 31 January 1999 and were placed in the Library of the House.

Old Palace Yard Refurbishment

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Further to his Written Answer on 17 January (WA 141), what are the financial contributions to the £2.44 million Old Palace Yard refurbishment project promised by Westminster City Council, the Westminster Abbey authorities, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Royal Parks Agency, the Royal Fine Art Commission and the International Council for Monuments and Sites.

Lord Boston of Faversham: Westminster City Council has offered a financial contribution of £100,000.

Old Palace Yard Refurbishment

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether there has been any increase in the estimated cost of the Old Palace Yard refurbishment project from the original estimate of £2.44 million; and what was the date of that estimate.

Lord Boston of Faversham: There has been no increase in the estimated cost of the project, which was first calculated in July 1998.

Old Palace Yard Refurbishment

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Which government departments have expressed support for the £2.44 million Old Palace Yard refurbishment project.

Lord Boston of Faversham: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Royal Parks Agency and the Traffic Director for London.

Acts of Parliament: Printing Proposals

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether, when the House of Lords' Offices Committee considered the proposal to print Acts of Parliament on paper rather than vellum to save £30,000, details were made available about the job-loss implications of the proposal.

Lord Boston of Faversham: No. The primary concerns of the committee were the interests of the taxpayer and the service of the House.